Tirupathi (2006 Kannada film)

Thirupathi  is a 2006 Indian Kannada-language action film directed by Shivamani, starring Sudeep and Pooja Kanwal with Charan Raj and Shanoor Sana in supporting roles. The film features background score and soundtrack composed by Rajesh Ramanath and lyrics by Kaviraj, Shivamani and Krishna. The film fared poorly at box-office.

Plot
Margaret, a newly appointed District commissioner in Bangalore has taken necessary orders to cancel the illegal construction of a building owned by Michael Raj, a notorious don who is highly influential and supported by the government. After knowing this, Michael Raj's son Aadhi along with his friends went to see Margaret to cancel the demolition order but she refuses to do. Furious Aadhi & his friends (one among them is innocent and witnessed the murder by Aadhi and other culprits) brutally rapes and shot her. Margaret's friend Nikhil who was unconscious on the spot had halvely witnessed it. He taken Margaret to the police station to inform about this incident, and also seek the help to take Margaret to hospital. But unfortunately she dies. Inspector Bachche Gowda, a corrupt police officer and helper of Michael Raj refuse to listen and framed Nikhil as the culprit to protect Aadhi. Constable Adarsh had informed the truth to Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar and also requests him to replace a sincere police officer instead of Bachche Gowda for the investigation of Margaret case. Commissioner appoints ACP Thirupathi, a sincere and delicate police officer to Bangalore for the investigation of Margaret case. Thirupathi is an upright officer who obeys law and also punishes those people who blindly escapes from the law. He stays with his mother Bharathi. One day, he come across a girl, Nandhini who is studying in Carmel college, deeply falls in love with Thirupathi but he doesn't reciprocate it. Thirupathi came to the police station to know about the reports of Margaret murder case. After seeing suspicious in the fake evidential material filed by Inspector Bachche Gowda, Thirupathi arrests doctor Varma who had made the false postmortem report and also releases innocent Nikhil. Nikhil told the truth to Thirupathi which have been seen by him. Thirupathi arrests Aadhi in front of Michael Raj's business partners cum friends Ekanath, Amarnath and Jaganath, a lawyer. Michael Raj came to meet commissioner to release his son on bail and he also meets Thirupathi who arrested his son. But Thirupathi refuses to free Aadhi and states that they can get bail only on Monday. Thirupathi also reveals Michael Raj's original name, Dhanraj which was a shock for him. Thirupathi only knows his past and tells to Michael Raj that he may be the destroyer of his life. The court leaves Aadhi free because he cannot be proved as the culprit according to law and the lawyer, Michael Raj's friend states that witness Nikhil who had seen this murder has given false statement against Aadhi. Michael Raj states that he won't let any evidences spare which strikes his son as the main culprit but Thirupathi tells that he won't leave Aadhi if the court frees him. Nandhini comes again in the life of Thirupathi and also threatens that if he didn't marries her she will commit suicide by lightning her. Nandhini is the daughter of Police Commissioner Ajay kumar who had helped Thirupathi to become a police officer. He accepted her as his love of life. Michael Raj send a gangster Onte Krishna to Adarsh's home to handover Nikhil. Thirupathi thrashes Onte krishna and his gang for kidnapping Adarsh's wife for the exchange of Nikhil. Thirupathi goes to arrest the other culprits who was involved with Aadhi in the murder case. Adarsh was killed in a car accident by them to change Thirupathi's surveillance and also kidnap's Nikhil. Thirupathi is abused and shattered in the court for not producing the witness. Michael Raj warns Thirupathi if he is so interested in this case he will kill Nikhil who is in his safe custody. Thirupathi reveals a shocking truth about Michael Raj that he had cheated his wife for money. After hearing this shocking truth Micheal Raj wants to know who is Thirupathi and what is his motive.

Thirupathi tells that he has grudge against him since 20 years and had also waiting for this moment. Michael Raj originally known as Dhanraj is Thirupathi's real father who had cheated his mother Bharathi for money. 20 years ago Dhanraj was a part-time criminal who works for money. One day he brought a man to his house who may be his boss to accompany with him for drinking. After seeing Bharathi, that man had a desire to sleep with her. Dhanraj allowed the permission and put a conditional agreement to acquire his properties in exchange of giving Bharathi. Angered Bharathi tells to Dhanraj that he is good for nothing man to her and his son Akash and also tells that if he does she will consider herself as widow. Dhanraj send that men to sleep with her in front of Akash and he left the place. Akash kills that man to protect his mother and he tells to the court by promising his mother that he had did this murder. Akash changed his named to Thirupathi, according to his mother's wish and he also promise her that he will be the savior of law. Thirupathi is sent to juvenile home on the imprisonment of 10 years. Thirupathi becomes a police officer under the guidance of Commissioner Ajay Kumar who was an inspector on that time. Knowing Thirupathi's identity Dhanraj want his son to be with him, but Bharathi tells that Thirupathi is grown to eliminate him. Dhanraj tells that he will surely removes his police uniform and also teaches him a lesson. Unfortunately, Dhanraj's friend cum partner Ekanath Bhavade becomes the Home Minister and suspends Thirupathi for misleading the murder case of District Commissioner Margaret. Ekanath handover this case to Bachche Gowda. Michael Raj tells to Thirupathi that he will suspend as he said before, but Thirupathi only feels good for his suspension. He has no objection for suspending him. Thirupathi tells that he is only a police officer till he wore his uniform and now he is a free bird in which he can take law in his own hand. Nandhini came to see Thirupathi and she tells that a few minutes before the missing of Nikhil, he was shooting video in his mobile phone. Thirupathi finds and locate Nikhil's mobile phone from Yeswanthpur. Thirupathi got to know about the car and the persons who had kidnap Nikhil by disguising them as police from the video in Nikhil's mobile phone. But the registration number of the car shows the details of another car. The same car in which Nikhil was kidnapped comes parallel to Thirupathi's car in a traffic signal. The car was spotted by Thirupathi which consists of three people who were the other culprits of Margaret. Thirupathi catches them by chasing the car. He takes them to the secret custody for interrogation and tortures them, but two of them didn't speak out the truth. Anil, the son of Home minister is the prime witness of this murder, told every truth to Thirupathi. Thirupathi make Anil to call his father and tells that Michael Raj had kidnapped them and threatens that he will kill them if they stand as approval against Aadhi.

The Home Minister and his other friends Amarmath, Jaganath came to see Michael Raj to leave their children. But he didn't know about this incident and states that he did not kidnapped them. The trio gave him 24 hours to leave their children and leaves the place. Thirupathi comes there and tells that he is the one who had kidnapped them for making approval against Aadhi and he also gives 24 hours to Michael Raj to handover Nikhil and also warns him to surrender his son Aadhi or else he will kill one of the culprits. Thirupathi informs Michael Raj that he is going to kill Amarnath's son. Thirupathi spots a bald look as the devotee of Lord Tirupati and kills him for raping Margaret brutally. The murder was witnessed by Michael Raj in a horrific way. Home minister request and begs the Commissioner to cancel the suspension of Thirupathi and get him back to the department to find his son Anil and the lawyer's brother Pramod. Thirupathi is back in the department and he goes to see Dhanraj for thanking him to get Thirupathi back in his uniform and he also tells Dhanraj to handover Nikhil and surrender his son to police as soon as possible. Thirupathi also kills pramod who was the third accused for raping Margaret. But he was alive in the next morning and has taken to hospital. The trio friends of Michael Raj came to hospital to see the condition of Pramod. Few minutes before his deathbed he shows Michael Raj as his killer in which the trio completely believed in no doubt. Home minister ordered Thirupathi to arrest Michael Raj. But he can't arrest Dhanraj because there is no evidence and witness against him for doing these crimes. Thirupathi promised the home minister to find his son within 6 hours who is in Thirupathi's secret custody. Thirupathi tells Michael Raj to surrender his son Aadhi immediately. Bachche Gowda came to see Thirupathi that Aadhi had ordered him to find Anil who is in Thirupathi's custody or else he will kill Gowda's family. Bachche Gowda tells that 'as a police officer he didn't show sincerity towards his job' and he also want an opportunity to assist Tirupathi. Gowda shows the place to Thirupathi where they had hidden Nikhil. Both Thirupathi and Gowda came to rescue Nikhil where Gowda is shot by Aadhi while saving Nikhil. Frustrated Thirupathi shots Aadhi to death. Bachche Gowda salutes Thirupathi before his death which hurts Thirupathi so bad. Thirupathi close this case by hand overing Anil to his father Home minister and in exchange he grants the permission to Thirupathi to shoot Michael Raj. Dhanraj who will be shoot at sight had kidnapped Thirupathi's mother and his would-be wife. He approaches Thirupathi to Kolar Gold Fields where a box is shown. When Thirupathi opens the box, it contains Anil's head who was kidnapped and killed brutally by Michael raj. Anil is innocent and the useful weapon for Thirupathi to make Dhanraj's supporter's rivals and to finish those culprits along with Aadhi. Dhanraj approach Thirupathi to a cave and also appreciates his smartness. Then there a fight occurs between them where Thirupathi was badly beatened which was seen by his mother. She encourages him to kill his father Dhanraj who had tried to cheat her after not seeing her as his wife. After hearing his mother's words angered Thirupathi beats Dhanraj brutally and kills him. Thus he saves his mother and wife.

Production
Director Shivamani who had taken movies like Rajakeeya, Dore, Vishwa, and Omkara wanted to make a cop action movie. He approached his friend cum actor Upendra who had collaborated with him in Omkara (2004). But the actor was busy due to scheduling conflicts. He suggest Shivamani about Sudeep. Shivamani and Upendra narrated the story to Sudeep, who accepted the offer. He plays the role of police officer for the first time in his career. He earlier played a police officer for a comedy sequence in Nalla (2004). Deepu was initially considered to play the heroine. This is Pooja Kanwal's second Kannada film after 7 O' Clock (2006). This is Sudeep's second film with producer R. S. Gowda after Maharaja (2005). Seetha and Bhanupriya were considered to play Sudeep's mother. Actress Shanoor Sana, who had collaborated with Sudeep in movies like Huchcha (2001) and Chandu (2002), was finalised for the mother role. Actor Charan Raj portray the role of antagonist.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Rajesh Ramanath collaborating with Sudeep for the fifth time after Huchcha (2001),Vaalee (2001),Swathi Muthu (2003) and My Autograph (Background score only).

Reception
R. G. Vijayasarathy from IANS stated that "Tirupati is an engaging entertainer which can be a tasty full meal for film fans of action flicks". A critic from Rediff.com opined that "But it is Sudeep's film all the way. He oozes talent in every frame and it is really his spirited performance as Tirupati that saves the film". A critic from Chitraloka.com wrote that "Action lovers cannot miss this film". The film had high collections initially but later dipped in collections.